A blog by Luke Akehurst about politics, elections, and the Labour Party - With subtitles for the Hard of Left.
Just for the record: all the views expressed here are entirely personal and do not necessarily represent the positions of any organisations I am a member of.

9 Comments:

Is the future conservative?The British economy is tipping into a recession. After three electionvictories, the New Labour project is exhausted. The ConservativeParty is now resurgent, attempting to reinvent its political traditionsand preparing for power. Britain is at a possible turning point. Thisbook critically engages with the ideas of the New Conservatives. Dotheir politics provide any answers to the challenges that lie ahead?What political direction might they take if they win the next election?The left needs to take on the New Conservatism. It needs toexpose the weaknesses of its notion of a post-bureaucratic age. Thelimited nature of its family policy and its contradictory ideas aroundeducation must be challenged. Behind its self-confident image theNew Conservatism faces a crisis in its unionist politics, and it lacksa coherent political economy to enact its pro-social politics. Politicalschisms in the party are waiting to erupt, and it has already begun toretreat from its earlier, bolder politics.But the New Conservatives cannot be reduced to ‘Tory toffs’;nor can Cameron be dismissed as a ‘shallow salesman’. This is aserious attempt to define a new communitarian politics of the right.If it succeeds, it will bring yet more insecurity and inequality. TheNew Conservatives pose a significant challenge not only to ademoralised Labour Party but to the wider progressive movementas a whole. To meet this challenge Labour must reassert its ownsocial and ethical values and find its own alternatives toneoliberalism.Jon Cruddas

Do the New Conservatives provide any answers to the challenges that lie ahead? What political direction might they take if they win the next election?

This new ebook brings together critical analysis of New Conservative thinking by writers from the left and right – including Neal Lawson, Oliver Letwin MP, Tony Juniper, John Harris and Tory thinker Phillip Blond.

Mark, I'm not at all worried by a conservative government and like the Labour party the conservative party has changed. If anything the conservatives are now left of Labour in many areas.

They do have some good ideas and the country clearly needs a change. Another Labour government would be a disaster for this country and most people know this, it's unfortunate that there are still some people blinded by Labour lies.

Did anyone really believe Brown when he said months ago that the UK was best placed to weather the economic storm? At the time I said that the UK wasn't and was mocked for my response....look at us now. Really the Labour leader is a complete moron and everything he has boasted about is now falling apart.

"No more boom and bust""I will not let house prices jeopardize the wider economy"

These are the promises of Brown and all turned out to be lies.

Yeserday the workers of a Notinghamshire power station went on strike. Not because of pay but because the company has decided to use Spanish contractors as they are cheaper. When Brown said British jobs for British workers he was again telling porkies. So a huge project paid by the tax payer is being given to foreign workers and at a time when 1000s of jobs are being lost.

Wake up people this country is on its knees, it's workers are being hammered and we are approaching collapse.

Its not the Labour Government but the Etonian Fascist establishment that actually is more powerful than the Government.

The Tories have not changed and never will.

Look at the Baffoon these prats elected as Mayor! All the Good work Ken done is being undone by him.

The 50% affordable housing scheme ended by the Primate!

The Deal with low cost oil from Venezuela ended by the Blonde fat useless Dullard!

The Tories are going to rip the shirts off the backs of working class people-Extract their teeth to melt down the fillings and Rip up their floorboards and what's left will be fair play for the government to build new Nuclear missiles and invade other Nations!

I am worried by the prospect of a Tory Government and the Unions better be prepared for the Class war. Getting the Tories back in won't be the answer! The status quo will just prevail with another round of Tories in power!

I hope the Workers are backed up by the TUC at the Nottinghamshire Power Station.I will put in a resolution at my branch to support them. Unfortunately this serious issue, is from the Brussels Euro flexible Labour policies at work, and its a disgrace!

It was The Tories that got us into the European Union. Ted Heath did it in 1973, he did not do a good job negotiating for us, it was mainly for the benefit of big business not for the people the concessions agreed!

Latest news from the strike at Nottinghamshire power station. They return to work on Monday but after losing two days pay and being banned from doing overtime. Is this how British employers treat British workers when the need of the country is energy and under a Labour government.

Unions negotiate Contracts of employment.Rosters are negotiated by Unions.Ensure the policies and procedures are not breached.Take up GrievancesDefend the worker in DisciplinariansProtect the worker from management sickness attendance procedures.Take up Accident claimsHealth and safetyDefend workers unfairly dismissed.Equal pay Equal opportunities policies.

Unions have become puppets of politics and big business to a degree. They are more concerned with their own survival than they are with workers rights.

But you are correct they do play an essential role even if its just legal representation. Even in America the unions are treated with respect it is unfortunate that this Labour government has not returned their rights.

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About Me

Labour Party activist since 1988 - firmly on the moderate wing of the party. Member of Labour’s NEC 2010-2012. National Secretary of Labour Students 1995-6. Parliamentary candidate for Aldershot (2001) and Castle Point (2005). Hackney Councillor (Chatham Ward) 2002-2014, Labour Group Chief Whip 2002-09, Chair of Health Scrutiny 2010-2014. Supporter of Europe, NATO/nuclear deterrence, Israel, electoral reform. Guardian reader. Dad. Oxford resident. Unite union member. Employment history as a Labour Party Organiser, Local Government Political Assistant, Director at a Public Affairs company. All views expressed in a personal capacity. The rest will become evident from reading the blog.